Planetary pipe threading tool



June 23,1931.

'r. M. BRuBAcK ETAL ,8 91 PLANETARY PIPE THREADING T0011 7 Filed July 3,1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gfigj INVENTORS: 6 mc ec% y ttorneys, G M-J1 W 21%June 23, 1931. 'T. M. B'RUBACK ET AL 1,311,491

PLANETARY PIPE THREADING' TOQL Filed July 3. 1928' 48heets-Sheet v2 1 r.Mag

By Attorneys,

June23, 1931. M. BRUBACK ETAL 1,811,491

PLANETARY PIPE THREADING TOOL Filed July 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.4.

lfi -w z iii- QINVENTORS: ad/96' i g:

By A tiomeys,

Patented June 23, 1931 warren STATES THEODORE M. BRUBACK AND DE LOSmanna,

JR., OF DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA PLANETARY PIPE-THREADING TOOL Applicationfiled July 3, 1928. Serial No. 290,176.

This invention relates to portable tools or apparatus for threadingpipes, wherein the thread is cut by a milling cutter or hob which whilerevolving travels in planetary fashion around the end of the pipe beingthreaded. Heavy stationary machines for threading pipe in this mannerhave long been in satisfactory use. The present invention provides aconvenient portable tool for threading pipe which may be readily carriedto the job where the pipe fitting is to be done, and which can beoperated by manpower to readily and rapidly cut the necessaryscrew-threads on pipes of varying sizes.

A device constituting the best known embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical mid-section in the plane of the axis of the pipebeing threaded, the milling tool or hob being here shown in a differentposition from that in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section in the j plane of the line 33 inFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section in the plane of the line 44 inFig. 2, and look ing toward the left in that figure, the hob being hereshown in similar position to that in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the engagement of the planetaryfeed gears.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the relations of the pipe, its endgauge, and the 5 cutter.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detached view of the coupling ring 10. i The improvedthreading tool comprises a chuck or vise A for clamping it'fast upon thepipe at to be threaded; a stationary 'casing B which is held fixedly inposition on the, pipe by means of its enclosed chuck A; a revolvingouter shell C which is mounted to turn about the casing B while movinglongitudinally thereon at a rate corresponding to the pitch of thethread to be cut; a swinging frame or easing D hung eccentrically uponthe shell C and carrying the revolving milling cutter or chaser E, whichin this art is colloquially termed the hob; and a crank F to be turnedby the operator; with suitable interposed gearing and other operatingmeans as will be described. Among these is a gauge G for correctlylocating the end of the pipe to be threaded; an adjusting handle Hwhereby to feed up the hob to cause it to out the thread to the requireddepth; and a clutch J for throwing the planetary feed into or out ofaction. The description will be more clear if the mode of operation isdescribed before entering into the details of construction.

Assuming that the pipe 0. to be threaded is held in a vise K shown indotted lines in Fig. 2 (or held fast in any other manner), the tool isslipped over the end of the pipe to be threaded until the end of thepipe abuts against the gauge G (which will previously have beencorrectly set according to the threading requirements for such pipe); asuitable chuck-operating key, having in this instance a square end, asshown at L in Fig.

3, will then be inserted through two coincidin holes 0 in the outershell C and b in the inner shell 13, and entered into a square socket (lin a chuck-operating screw M, and this screw turned to draw together thetwo jaws of the chuck A to cause them to grip the pipe, thereby lockingthe tool as a whole fast to the pipe. At this time the clutch Jcontrolling the feed is disengaged. The operator will then turn theadjusting handle H, whereby to feed the hob E toward the pipe, and at orbefore contact of the cutter teeth of the hob with the pipe he willbegin to turn the crank F, whereby through gearing the hob is rotated insuch direction as to make a milling cut into the pipe as the feedinghandle H is further turned; by means of this handle the hob will be fedup until it cuts into the pipe the depth of the required thread; in thisthe operator is guided by graduations on a connected collar 6. Near thebeginning of the crank movement the gauge G is automatically retractedto bring it out of the way of the subsequent feed. Then to cause thecutter to travel in its planetary orbit around the pipe,'the operatorwill mani ulate the feed clutch J to start the feed mec anism inoperation and thereby causethe outer shell C to be slowly rotated aroundtheinner shell B,'and consequently around the pipe; and as this shellcarries the swing frame or casing D which carries the hob, the latterwill travel around the pipe, its teeth cutting as shown in Fig. 2. Byreason of these threads the hob, while rotatingon its own axis andexecuting its planetary movement around the pipe, also progresses inahelical path vhavingthe pitch of the threads to be cut, so that when ithas completed its orbital movement it has advanced a distance equal tothe pitch of the thread. When this full planetary revolution of the hobhas been completed, they-operator will receive a signal indicatingthis-fact,- which may conveniently be brought about by'a spring-pressedball z' snapping. into a groove or notch j (orby anyv equivalentsnapping action), whereby to cause an audible click which is the signalto the operator that the work is completed.

The operator will then turn back the handle H to retract the hob E fromthe work; and will then manipulate the feed control J (as hereinafterdescribed) so as to render the feed inoperative and thereby free theouter. shell'C; after which he will turn the outer shell G back for onerevolution to its starting position, the end of which movement is againindicated to the operator by I the clicking of the ball 71 into thenotch Preferably, however, a latch l/V" is provided (to be describedlater), the bolt of which, at the end of the return. movement, havingentered a notch 41 (Fig. 3), abuts against the abrupt side of this notchand thereby positively stops the return rotation. This backward movementoccurs without other resistance than the slight friction of the shell Cturning on .the body B, and the rotation of shaftVV by gear o and pinionV; because during this movement the hob is doing no work, since it hasbeen withdrawn from contact with the pipe and. need not even be inrotation, since it is needless during this backward movement to turn thecrankF. The

tool is then taken oi the pipe by inserting the key L through theholeslo, Z) (which come into coincidence when the ball 2' enters its asdistinguished from being spirally threaded, the cutting of a spiralthread on the pipe being accomplished by the movement in axial directionof the outer shell C as controlled by the engaging screw-threads 7, g.

The preferred details of construction will now be described. The chuck Ais most desir-' ably made. with two pairs of jaws k, 70, serrated toengage the pipe and formed on sliding chuck members N, N, mounted toslide in grooves or slidewaysl in the inner shell B. The chuck screw Mis a rig it and left threaded screw, its threads engaging partialthreads in the chuck members N, N, as shown in Fig. 3, and the screwbeing held against displacement along its axis by. means of a1 fixedkeym engaging a neck .formed at the middle of the screw. For assemblingthe parts the inner shell B is made with aninner body portion P, P, andan outer barrelformed'shell p; the inner body is dividedso that thatparts P,P, meet in the plane indicated by the. line 3.3'in Fig. 2, sothat in assembling these parts the clutch jaw slides N, N, and the screwM and key 772., are engaged between the'two body parts or members P, P.These are then fastened together and to the outer shell 29 by means ofanysuitable bolts or screws such as two diametrically-oppo site screws 99 (Fig. 3), the heads of which are shown at the left in @Fig. 1. Forcorrectly locating the members P, P, in assembling theinner parts, it isdesirable to provide two pins '2" rwhich may be made a driving'fit withone. ofthe partsup, and a working fit with the other.

Theouter shell or casing C is formed at one side (here shown as atthetop) with abracket. arm Giwhich my conveniently be formed integrallyvwith it, and which is bored to receive a bushing s'which projects beyondit and forms a hollow stud on which is pivoted the swing frame or casingD carrying the thread cutter or hob E. Thecasing C also has on the sideopposite the bracket arm C, a projection C ;(or preferably a pair of projections) carrying a guide Q fixedly united through the arm or arms C tothe casing G. The swing frameD has its lowerportion D formed to projectinto a slot inthe upper side of the guide Q, whereby to steady the framein its swinging movement. The abutjting faces of the lower part of theprojection D and of the upper part of the guide Q, are preferably madein an arc struck from the axis of the bushing s, so that as the swingframe moves around this axis, its lower part is guided in both.directions by its engagement with the guide Q.

The guide Q isforme'd also .witha' barrel portion which encloses a screwor worm R which passes out through at least one end of the guide Q andhas keyed at its projecting end theadjustable handle H which is hereshown as a knob. 7 a

The swing frame D has at its lower arcshaped extension D a segmentalgear or rack S fastened to it, its teeth meshing as a wormwheel with theteeth of the worm R. Thus by turning the handle H the worm imparts tothis swing frame its swinging movement, whereby to bring the hob E whichis carried by this frame, toward or from the center of the pipe to bethreaded. The swing frame D is made hollow and constitutes a gear casehavinga cover T for closing it on its outer side. This gear caseencloses and forms bearings for the several gears and the spindle of thehob E and that of the crank F. The hob is shown as fastened with a keyedconnection upon a spindle E (see Figs. 2 and 4), the spindle beingformed with pinion teeth t engaged by the teeth on gearu which is madefast to a spindle U on which is fastened the hub of the crank F. Thus,as the crank is turned, the hob E is rotated to make its out.

The feed for causing the planetary travel of the hob while cutting isaccomplished by the engagement of a pinion V (which is slowly rotatedfrom the crank) with gear teeth 4) formed on the inner casing B. Thepinion and gear teeth are best shown in Fig. 4 The gear teeth mayconveniently be formed on a ring '0' seated in a. concentric neck formedon one of the body members P and fastened thereto by screws, as shown inFig. 2. To allow for the spiral travel of the outer shell C during theplanetary movement, the pinion V at starting engages with only a portionof the width of the face of the gear teeth, as shown in Fig. 2, theoverlap of the respective teeth gradually increasing during theplanetary revolution.

The pinion V is conveniently formed on the end of. a spindle W (Fig. 2)which is rotated through atrain of gearing from the crank F. The crankspindle U is formed with pinion teeth to which drive a gear X having onitsspindle pinion teeth a: which mesh with and drive a gear Y whichturns loosely on the spindle W, but may be clutched thereto by clutchmembers under control of the clutch-operating part 'J The clutch isshown in Fig. 2 as disconnected, so that the gear wheel Y turns idly andno feed motion is imparted. To start the feed the operating part J ismanipulated to engage the clutch and thereby lock the gear Y to thespindle W, so that upon the turning of the crank the pinion is driven,at a reducedrate of speed suchas to impart the proper rate of planetaryadvance to the hob, while its cutting teeth'are cutting into the pipe. 1

The clutch device operated by the controlling handle J may be variouslyconstructed. The construction shown comprises a sliding ringer sleeve 10having non-rotative engagement with the spindle W, and having on itsside toward the gear Y, teeth 110 which, as it is moved toward the gear,interlock with teeth 112 on the hub of the gear. A convenientconstruction is that shown, wherein the sliding ring 10 has a pin 11passing diametri cally through the spindle TV which is made hollow, andengaging longitudinal slots 12 in the spindle, and itself engaged at itsmiddle by a stem 13 the outer end of which is locked to an outeroperating knob 14 by which endwise movement may be imparted to engage ordisengage the clutch members. A s1 ring 15 tends to engage the clutchmembers and reacts against a ring or bushing 16 fastened within thehollow spindle. The end of the spindle is given an oblique cut, as shownat 18, and this oblique end engages with an inner projection 19 withinthe operating knob 14, so that as the latter is turned, this projectionwill ride along the inclined end of the spindle, thereby resolving theturning movement of the knob into a longitudinal movement of the stem13. The stress of the spring 15 is resisted by engagement of theprojection 19 with the incline 18 to hold the clutchdisengaged, asshown; or upon a half turn of the knob the riding of the projection downthe incline enables the spring to throw the clutch into engagement.Thus, by a half turn of the knob 14 the operator is able to clutch in orout the feed movement.

The gauge G requires to be adjusted before the beginning of theoperation to adapt it to the required length of the pipe end to bethreaded, this adjustment depending upon the size of the pipe. The gaugeis a disk mounted on one end of the spindle Z which has fastened on itsother end an adjusting knob 20, and between is formed with a screwthread21 engaging an internal thread in a bushing 22 which is slidable withinthe hollow spindle U, but is keyed thereto so as to necessarily rotatetherewith. A spring 23 presses to the right against this bushing andtends to pull back the gauge G from its set gauging position, which itoccupies in the starting position of the tool, while latch 40 isengaging its notch 41. The bushing is held in this position at startingby means of a catch 25 consisting of a lever pivoted at 26 to the crankhub, this lever having its nose curved inwardly to abut against theouter end of the bushing 22, and having a spring 27 pressing against itsopposite arm to hold it in such engagement. While thus engaged,

the bushing 22 maintains a fixed position, so 3'.

that by turning the knob 20 to rotate the spindle Z, the screw-threads21 turn within the fixed bushing 22 in order to screw the spindle in orout and thereby bring the gauge G to its desired initial gaugingposition.

During such adjustment the parts are held in place by the spring catch25. This adjustment is necessarily made while the tool is in its initialor starting position, and is made before applying the tool to the pipeto be threaded. After the tool is applied and locked fast, it isdesirable then to move the engagement with this roller, which latterapproaches near enough to the crank center to tilt the catch lever 25and withdraw its nose from the outer end of the bushing 22, whereuponthe spring 23 throws back the gauge G.

Fig. shows the relative arrangements of the pipe a, the cutter or hob Eat one part of its travel, and the gauge Gand crank spindle U. Thecenter of the hob travels around the plipe in an orbit indicated by thedotted circ e z.

An auxiliary snap catch l/V is provided, consisting of a shell in whichis enclosed a spring-pressed latch 40 having a beveled end engaging in atooth 41 (Fig. which is abrupt on one side and beveled on the other. Thepurpose of this is to hold the outer casing' stationary during thepreliminary feed by the handle H, and while the hob is cutting its wayto the depth of the thread at its initial cutting position. During thisinitial 1 cut the reaction of the cutting teeth of the hob against themetal ofthe pipe tends to rotate the outer shell C in the direction ofthe arrow 42 in Fig. 3, and this is prevented by the catch 40 bearingagainst the abrupt sideof the notch 41. When, however, the hob has beenentered to the. required depth and the planetary feed is started, thiscauses'the out or shell C to travel aroundthe stationary in- .ner shellin the direction of arrow 43,, at the starting of 'whichmovement thecatch 40 rides up the inclined side of the, notch and thereafter bearsagainst the concentric outer portion of the inner shell B. On completingthe revolution the latch 40 would drop over the abrupt'side of the notch41 and would ob struct the idle return movement of the tool to itsinitial position, but that this occurrence is avoided by making thenotch 41=so short axially (as shown in Fig. 2) that the endwise movementof the shell C during itsrotation (being fora distance equal to thepitch of the threads f, g, as shown by dotted lines at the left in Fig.2) carries the catch 40 beyond the end of the notch, so that at the endof the rotationthe latch is upheld by the concentric outer face of thebody B and cannot enter the notch.

The particular machine here-shown is designed tov thread pipes rangingbetween one and twoinches in diameter, these sizes requiring astandardthread of a pitch of 11 threads to the inch. For that purposethe threads 7, g, are giventhat samepitch. To assist the operator andhasten the operation in -making the necessary adjustments for differentsizes of pipe, certain gauging marks or graduations areprovided. Thegauge-adjusting knob has a pointer45 (Fig; 4)

which may register with graduationsl (for a-'one-inch pipe) or 2 (for atwo-inchpipe),

or with any other desired intermediate graduations, which, for example,may be, for 1% and 1 inch pipes. Similarly, the guide Q, isdesirablyprovided with a pointer 46 which may register with several graduationson the swing frame extension D, according to the size of pipe to bethreaded, the graduation 1 being forv a one-inch pipe, 2 for a two-inchpipe, and the intermediate marks for suitable intermediate sizes ofpipes. Also, the collar 6, which is fastened by a set-screw 47 tothespindle forming the worm R, is provided with g'raduations 48 which'mayregister with a sta tionary pointer 49 on the guide Q, and may besuitably numbered to guide the operator as to how far he should'turn theknob H inorder to feed the hob the proper depth into its out. In settingthe tool for use with a given size of pipe, the knob 20 is turned tobring it to the proper angular position, as indicated by thegraduations, and is then forcibly pushed in to compress the spring 28'and'permit the catch to snap in behind the bushing '22 to'hold the gaugein its initially-projected gauging position. This will'normally be donewith the crank F down, and the angularrelation of the catch 25 andreleasing roller is such that in this position the engagement of thecatch is not interfered with by the roller. j

The adjusting handle or knob H is in such position that it may beconveniently turned with the left hand while the operator wit the righthand is'rotating the crank. r The gearing may be variously proportioned.In the construction shown, the hob turns at an angular speed somewhatexceeding that of the .crank,-perhaps 1% to 1. The feed train may be soproportioned as to cause the complete planetary revolution of the hob inabout 91 turnsof the crank. V

While the new portable tool provided by this invention is designed to bemanually operated by means of a crank, yet it is to be understoodthat'the crank may be replaced by anyequivalent driving means, such, forexample, as a portable electric motor.

We claim as our invention: 1

'1. A portable planetary pipe-threading tool comprising a stationarybody and means for locking it on the pipe, a casing rotative tiplethread cutter, amounting for. said outter movable with respect to saidcasing for feeding the cutter toward the pipe axis, a

crank for'rotating said cutter, gearing driven by said crank forrotating-saidcasingaround the body to advance the cutter in a planetarycourse around the pipe, and means for limiting such planetary movementto one revolution.

2. YA pipe-threading tool comprising a sta tionary body and means forlocking it on the pipe, a casing rotative around said body, a swingframe outside said casing beyond the end of the pipe to be threaded,said swing frame carried by said casing on a pivotal hearing eccentricto the pipe axis, a rotary thread cutter carried by said swing frame, acrank for rotating the cutter, gearing driven by said crank for rotatingthe casing for advancing the cutter in a planetary course around thepipe, and means for moving said swing frame for feeding the cuttertoward the pipe axis.

3. A pipe-threading tool comprising a stationary body and means forlooking it on the pipe, a casing rotative around said body, a swingframe carried by said casing, a rotary thread cutter carried by saidswing frame, a crank for rotating the cutter, gearing driven by saidcrank for rotating the casing for advancing the cutter in a planetarycourse around the pipe, comprising a feed spindle having an axiscoincident with the axis around which the swing frame turns, and meansfor moving said swing frame for feeding the cutter toward the pipe axis.

4. A pipe-threading tool comprising a stationary body and means forlocking it on the pipe, a casing rotative around said body, a swingframe carried by said casing and formed as a hollow shell constituting agear chamber, a rotary thread cutter carried by said swing frame, acrank for rotating the cutter, turning in bearings in said swing frameand having a geared connection with the cutter, gearing driven by saidcrank for rotating the casing for advancing the cutter in a planetarycourse around the pipe, said gearing enclosed within the hollow chamberof the swing frame, and means for moving said swing frame for feedingthe cutter toward the pipe axis.

5. A pipe-threading tool according to claim 1, said disconnecting meanscomprising a clutch the members of which are connected respectively withthe crank-driven gearing and with the planetary feed, and a handle forthrowing said clutch in or out.

6. A pipe-threading tool comprising a stationary body and means forlocking it fast, a rotary casing having screw-threaded engagement withsaid body, a rotary thread cutter carried by said casing, with means foradjusting it toward the pipe axis, a crank for rotating said cutter, aplanetary feed mechanism for advancing the cutter around the pipe, andan interengaging catch and recess on the casing and body respectively,located to engage in the starting position and to re-engage uponcompletion of one revolution of the casing to indicate to the operatorthat the cutter has completed its work.

7. A pipe-threading tool comprising a slationary body, a casing rotativearound it, a rotary cutter carried by the casing, a crank for rotatingsaid cutter, a planetary feed mechanism comprising gearing terminatingin a pinion having bearings carried by the casing and a gear fixed tosaid body and engaged by said pinion to rotate the casing around thebody, and a swing-frame carrying the bearings for said cutter, crank,and gearing, and mounted to swing about an axis coincident with the axisof said pinion.

8. A pipe-threading tool comprising a stationary body and means forlooking it fast, a casing rotative around said body, an eccentricpivotal bearing carried by said casing, an arc-shaped guide carried bysaid casing, a swing-frame pivoted to the casing on said eccentricbearing, and having an arc-shaped portion engaging said guide, a rotarycutter and a crank for rotating it carried by said swing-frame, andadjusting means carried by the casing and swing-frame for swinging thelatter to feed the cutter to its work. 7

9. A pipe-threading tool according to claim 8, the said adjusting meanscomprising a worm and handle for turning it, carried by the casing, anda toothed sector engaging said worm, carried by the swing-frame.

10.A pipe-threading tool comprising a stationary body and means forlocking it fast, a casing rotative around said body, a rotary threadcutter in bearings carried by said casing, a crank for rotating saidcutter, means for adjusting said cutter toward the axis of the pipe, andmeans applied to the casing and body respectively for preventingplanetary motion of the cutter while it is being preliminarily fed toits work.

11. A pipe-threading tool according to claim 10, said last-named meanscomprising a catch on one part engaging a notch in the other, said parthaving abrupt engagement in one direction to prevent said planetarymovement, and beveled engagement in the opposite direction to permitplanetary movement during the subsequent planetary travel of the cutter.

12. A pipe-threading tool comprising a stationary body, means forclamping it on the pipe, a casing rotative around said body, a planetarythread cutter rotative in bearings carried by said casing, a crank forrotating said cutter, a gauge for locating the tool body with referenceto the end of the pipe to be threaded, and means for automaticallywithdrawing said gauge near the beginning of the threading operation,with means for automatically withdrawing said gauge near the beginningof the threading operation, said means comprising a retracting springfor the gauge,a catch for holding thesgauge projected, and meansconnected with ithe crank for releasing said catch.

- l3.- A' portable pipe-threading toolcomprising a hollow cylindricalstationary body,

a casing rotative around'said body,'a thread 7 cutter ca'rriedby saidcasing beyond the end.

of said body, and means for locking said body on the pipe, such meanscomprising a chuck enclosed within the body having gripping jaws, andclamping means within the body for forcing such jaws together intoengagement with the pipe, the body having within it parallel guideways,and the gripping jaws having parallel engaging portions adapted toreinforce the chuck members against rotative stress. v

l4. A pipe-threading tool according "to claim 18, the body and casinghaving' holes which coincide in the initial position, and the meansforforcing the clutch-jaws together having an engaging portion aligned withsaid coinciding-holes to be engaged by a 'k'ey entered through suchholes for operating the chuck.

15. A. pipe-threadingtool comprising'a stationary body, a casingrota-tive' a ound said body,a planetary thread cutter rotated inbearings carried by saidcasing, a crank for rotatingsaid cutter, and acatch for holding the casing against rotation in the start ingposition,%tl1e casing and body'having screw-threaded engagement wherebythe "casing travels axially during the planetary movement of the cutter,and said catch comprising a bolt and notch having axial clearance lessthan the pitch of the thread, so that at the end ofthe planetary cuttingopera-tion they are'relatively-displaced so as to be'unengageable. 7

- In witness whereof, We have"hereunto signed our names.

THEODORE M. BRUBACK. DE LOS E; HIBNER, J R.

